Month: February 2013

wuzhen, water town

not my plane but another awaiting passangers at Shanghai airport
not my plane but another awaiting passangers at Shanghai airport
buddha snow man
buddha snow man
the foot binding museum, as Matt noted, part of China's decadent past that was scoured away by the revolution, now thankfully only exists in gruesome pictures/models...not to mention the opium wars
the foot binding museum, as Matt noted, part of China’s decadent past that was scoured away by the revolution, now thankfully only exists in gruesome pictures/models…not to mention the opium wars

attractive vistaattractive vista

traditional food preservation, the dissected ducks [not shown] disturbed the New York based architects who are working on the project
traditional food preservation, the dissected ducks [not shown] disturbed the New York based architects who are working on the project
it was freezing, obviously not as cold as Harbin but mostly outside so felt very cold
it was freezing, obviously not as cold as Harbin but mostly outside so felt very cold
not many tourists on new year's eve, some hardy visitors
not many tourists on new year’s eve, some hardy visitors
one of the museums, silk making in action
one of the museums, silk making in action

The water town, Wuzhen, near Shanghai dates back around one thousand years and in recent times has been developed into a tourist destination and zone of preservation and celebration of traditional handcrafts by a former mayor who is now Buro Happold’s client for an Eden project style development near the Great Wall in Beijing.

It offers an alternative approach to the usual bulldozer/tower block/shopping mall development style that is generally preferred by developers especially in Hong Kong. It does require support though as it is not necessarily as economically viable as purely commercial construction but how great would it be to preserve some authentic Chinese history rather than supplant the past with a mock pseudo-European carpet of self imposed cultural “progress”!

distant fireworks, not allowed inside the village due to danger of gunpowder/wood combo
distant fireworks, not allowed inside the village due to danger of gunpowder/wood combo
lunar new year lanterns
lunar new year lanterns
night time bridge
night time bridge
dinner in the street with the client/important Wuzhen boss. Filmed by CCTV as part of their usual spring festival coverage
dinner in the street with the client/important Wuzhen boss. Filmed by CCTV as part of their usual spring festival coverage
high speed train, can anyone who complains about China recal the UK train network and compare!!!
high speed train, can anyone who complains about China recal the UK train network and compare!!!

studio time

Demonstrating mono-printing and use of stencils and resists to manipulate slip designs for surface treatment on leather hard clay. Here the results on a porcelain body are drying slowly to minimise the formation of cracks.
Demonstrating mono-printing and use of stencils and resists to manipulate slip designs for surface treatment on leather hard clay. Here the results on a porcelain body are drying slowly to minimise the formation of cracks.

Discussion of upcoming exhibition in Unit Gallery, so far categorised as works in progress and the nascent audience and coffee table accordingly covered in related stuff, in other words a living record of productivity, a still life.
Discussion of upcoming exhibition in Unit Gallery, so far categorised as works in progress and the nascent audience and coffee table accordingly covered in related stuff, in other words a living record of productivity, a still life.